President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on the plenary on Tuesday read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari informing the legislature of his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

Buhari said the leave was indefinite.

Buhari

whereas the President mentioned in the letter that vp Yemi Osinbajo would “coordinate” the governance of the united states of america during his absence, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa criticised the letter as no longer naming Osinbajo as performing President and must be disregarded.

The letter learn, “In compliance with section one hundred forty five (1) of the 1999 structure (as amended), I are looking to inform the distinguished Senate that I will likely be away for a scheduled clinical practice-up with my doctors in London. The size of my stay shall be decided by the physician’s recommendation.

whereas i am away, the vp will coordinate the activities of the federal government. Please settle for, the celebrated Senate President, the assurances of my best consideration.”

but Ohuabunwa, whereas raising a point of order, argued that the letter was not clear on the transfer of energy from Buhari to Osinbajo.

He said, “every time the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the home of Representatives a written assertion that he’s proceeding on trip or that he is unable to discharge the capabilities of his office, unless he transmits to them the written declaration on the contrary, such function will be discharged by the Vice-President as acting President.

“Mr. President, I don’t suppose in our constitution now we have the rest like ‘coordinating president’ or ‘coordinating vp.’ it is either you’re vice chairman or you’re acting president and any letter (on transfer of energy) must be unambiguous and very clear. So, i’m saying that this letter in reality does not deliver anything as a result of ‘coordinating’ has no area or anywhere in our structure.

“now we have been having (receiving) letters like this by which he’ll tell us who is the acting president and we will be able to understand who to handle as a Senate. that is the absolute best legislative body of any united states and if you’re sending us a letter, it must be direct, unambiguous. So, i’m announcing that this letter, for me, shouldn’t be right and perhaps it must be despatched back.”

however the Majority leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, countered Ohuabunwa, announcing Buhari had fulfilled the provisions of part a hundred forty five of the constitution by means of transmitting the letter.

He stated, “Let me say that the point of order raised by using my colleague and the explanation that subsequently adopted will have to not were and my reasons are simple. I still rely on the first paragraph of that letter which Mr. President wrote to this Senate and read via President of the Senate and i’ll learn section 145.”

After reading the part, Lawan brought, “another word in this letter or indeed anywhere else is inappropriate. I, subsequently, really feel that Mr. President has accomplished what the structure requires him to do and i encourage this Senate to not go in advance to talk about this as a result of it isn’t a subject. we now have the finances and so many other critical concerns for us to speak about and Nigerians are ready.”

Saraki, who presided over the plenary, alternatively, dominated Ohuabunwa out of order.

“i believe it is a very clear problem and what we must be guided through is the constitution, and i think that it is clear. The letter has referred to the structure (section 145) and there is no ambiguity within the structure. So, I don’t assume there is any problem there. Let me first rule you out of order, Senator Mao.”